Title: Elections and Schools Submitted by: Ann Allen Alternate Names: Representation, Responsiveness, Democratic Governance
The study of elections in political science provides a framework for understanding how the structure of school elections likely affects the nature of representation and voice in school decision-making. Election theory is particularly relevant to public institutions like public schools where school boards are elected by the community. Election theory has been used to consider how the structure of elections, such as whether elections are ward-based or city-based or whether school elections are conducted with general elections or as special elections, affects who votes and whose voices are represented in school decisions. Election theory has also been used to examine issues of politics and power in school decisions, and how these politics affect issues of equity in schools. Since school boards are the policy making entities at the local level, how these boards are elected is a question significant to democratic governance, representation, voice, equity, and power in school decision-making.
References: Campbell, A., Converse, P., Miller, E., & Stokes, D. E. (1960). The American Voter. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Downs, A. (1957). An Economic Theory of Democracy. New York: HarperCollins.
Lijphart, A. (1997). Unequal participation: Democracy’s unresolved dilemma. American Political Science Review 91: 1-14.
Lodge, M., & Steenbergen, M. (1995). The responsive voters: Campaign information and the dynamics of candidate evaluation. American Political Science Review 89: 309-326.
Wolfinger,R. E.,& Rosenstone, S. J. (1980).Who votes? New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
References applying the framework: Allen, A. & Plank, D.N. (2005). School board election structure and democratic representation. Educational Policy 19(3): 510-527.
Berkman, M.B. & Plutzer, E. (2005). Ten Thousand Democracies: Politics and Public Opinion in America’s School Districts. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press.
Feuerstein, A. (2002). Elections, voting, and democracy in local school district governance. Educational Policy 16(1): 15-36.
Lutz, F., & Iannacone, L. (1978). Public Participation in School Decision Making. Lexington: Lexington Press.
McDermott, K. A. (1999). Controlling Public Education: Localism versus Equity. Lawrence, Kansas: University of Kansas Press.
Meier, K. (2002). A research agenda on elections and education. Educational Policy, 16(1): 219-230.
Meier, K. J. & England, R.E. (1984). Black representation and educational policy: Are they related? American Political Science Review 78(2): 392-403.
Meier, K.J., Stewart, J., & England, R.E. (1989). Race, Class, and Education: The Politics of Second Generation Discrimination. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press.
Type in the content of your page here.
Submitted by: Ann Allen
Alternate Names: Representation, Responsiveness, Democratic Governance
The study of elections in political science provides a framework for understanding how the structure of school elections likely affects the nature of representation and voice in school decision-making. Election theory is particularly relevant to public institutions like public schools where school boards are elected by the community. Election theory has been used to consider how the structure of elections, such as whether elections are ward-based or city-based or whether school elections are conducted with general elections or as special elections, affects who votes and whose voices are represented in school decisions. Election theory has also been used to examine issues of politics and power in school decisions, and how these politics affect issues of equity in schools. Since school boards are the policy making entities at the local level, how these boards are elected is a question significant to democratic governance, representation, voice, equity, and power in school decision-making.
References:
Campbell, A., Converse, P., Miller, E., & Stokes, D. E. (1960). The American Voter. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Downs, A. (1957). An Economic Theory of Democracy. New York: HarperCollins.
Lijphart, A. (1997). Unequal participation: Democracy’s unresolved dilemma. American Political Science Review 91: 1-14.
Lodge, M., & Steenbergen, M. (1995). The responsive voters: Campaign information and the dynamics of candidate evaluation. American Political Science Review 89: 309-326.
Wolfinger,R. E.,& Rosenstone, S. J. (1980). Who votes? New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
References applying the framework:
Allen, A. & Plank, D.N. (2005). School board election structure and democratic representation. Educational Policy 19(3): 510-527.
Berkman, M.B. & Plutzer, E. (2005). Ten Thousand Democracies: Politics and Public Opinion in America’s School Districts. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press.
Feuerstein, A. (2002). Elections, voting, and democracy in local school district governance. Educational Policy 16(1): 15-36.
Lutz, F., & Iannacone, L. (1978). Public Participation in School Decision Making. Lexington: Lexington Press.
McDermott, K. A. (1999). Controlling Public Education: Localism versus Equity. Lawrence, Kansas: University of Kansas Press.
Meier, K. (2002). A research agenda on elections and education. Educational Policy, 16(1): 219-230.
Meier, K. J. & England, R.E. (1984). Black representation and educational policy: Are they related? American Political Science Review 78(2): 392-403.
Meier, K.J., Stewart, J., & England, R.E. (1989). Race, Class, and Education: The Politics of Second Generation Discrimination. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press.
Type in the content of your page here.